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Monday, September 14, 2009

13 months!!

Today Riley is thirteen months old. I have two newsy bits regarding him to tell you before we get to the usual stats; first of all, yesterday he tried to climb our neighbour kid's bike and it fell over on him and he busted up his toe. The toenail was all black and hanging off, and the toe was red and swollen, and he wouldn't/couldn't walk on it yesterday evening. Poor baby! Today at boot camp he was visibly limping. Then at some point, I noticed the blood that was trapped under the toenail came out, and he seemed MUCH more comfortable, so maybe the pressure was the main problem. He still complains if it gets bumped, but he was running around at Ayden's soccer practice with no limp, so that is good! It was VERY cute this morning; I was showing my friend Rowenna his toe and he pointed at it, looked all sad and pathetic, and said "goo-woo, ba ba" in this very pathetic voice (obviously to elicit sympathy, which worked). SO CUUUUUTE!!!The other bit of news is that tonight Riley did some sign language for the first time totally unprompted! He heard an airplane, looked at the sky, and moved his fist in the correct way for 'airplane,' while making the sound of a motor with his mouth. I LOVE this stage, where they use sign language to initiate conversation about things they notice or are interested in. It is awesome to see him communicate what he's interested in. We did baby sign language with our other two kids too, and found it very helpful in reducing frustration surrounding communication for that developmental period where they understand much more than they can say. And it is fun to be able to 'talk' before they can talk!

LOVESsoccerhis brothersmomma milkairplanessmall dogsother babieswheelshockey sticksballsstickspine conesblueberriesfoodtomatoesMEATradishescurrypeacheschilisushi, including the seaweed(I told you this kid loves food)opening the shower door while you are in itwaterbathshot tubspoolsrunning water in sinks and tubscreek waterdog's water dishtickle monsterchasewrestlingdropping food on the floor for the dogshoessocksbooksclimbing on the oven drawer to get to the stovetop pulling hairscratching people

DISLIKESdiaper changesgetting dressed (except for his shoes and socks, which he loves)lying down on his back in the watercarseat, though he is getting better at longer tripslarge dogsbeing put in the strollerricecheesekisses from mommy (too busy for that business!)feeling left behind

DEVELOPMENTnow can walk down stairs if holding someone's handcommunicates with sign languagemakes proper car, truck, and airplane noisesuses ride on toyscan operate screw off/on tops if looseclimbs like an orangutancan hit a ball with a hockey stickremembers where he hid objects even a few days later (sometimes)has invented a whole new level of 'switch nursing'--he prefers to breastfeed by having both breasts available and switching from side to side every 3 or 4 sucks, which helps me to develop better flexibility in my back ;)can balance on one foot for 3 or 4 secondscan walk backwardscan run forwardsdances any time he hears musicpointsblows to cool down his foodlearning to use a forkknows how to use a spoonwaves 'bye bye' and 'hello'sleeps well between 8:30 pm and 4:30 am--wakes to nurse about two or three times between 4:30 and 7:00, on averageorients his entire existence around trying to escape out the front or back door and running out onto the street. Where he's going, nobody knows, but he's determined to get there. Maybe he figures God sent him to the wrong family? THESE PEOPLE ARE KOOKS, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?! I'M NOT STAYING HERE ANOTHER MINUTE!